Eagles’ Sproles suffers two injuries on one play.
When Darren Sproles walked briskly off the field holding his wrist after it appeared he injured his knee, the Philadelphia Eagles thought it was good news. Bad news came Monday. Sproles tore his ACL and broke his forearm on the same play in Sunday’s win over the New York Giants. He’ll miss the rest of the season.
“It’s a devastating loss,” coach Doug Pederson said.
The versatile Sproles has nine returns for touchdowns, including seven on punts. The 34-year-old veteran has gone to three Pro Bowls, including last season when he had a career-high 94 carries.
“He’s a great man. He’s a great leader, well-liked on this team and in this locker room and in this community,” Pederson said. “He’s a lot of energy, and that’s hard to replace.”
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (calf) and starting linebacker Jordan Hicks (ankle) also were injured against New York. Pederson said both players are day-to-day.
Luck closer to returning: Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano says there’s a chance Andrew Luck could return to practice Wednesday.
Pagano already has ruled Luck out of Sunday night’s game at Seattle.
Still, it would be a major milestone in Luck’s recovery from off-season shoulder surgery.
The franchise quarterback missed all of the team’s off-season workouts, all of training camp and the entire preseason before he was activated from the physically unable to perform list Sept. 2.
Good news for Panthers: Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera expressed relief Monday after an MRI revealed wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin has no structural damage to his left knee.
Benjamin’s status will be day-to-day. Rivera says it’s too early to know if he will play Sunday at New England.
Benjamin’s left knee got bent backward after he was dragged down from behind on the final play of the first quarter of Carolina’s 34-13 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. He did not return to the game.
Bears lose Demps: Chicago Bears safety Quintin Demps suffered a broken arm in the 23-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and will be out an indefinite period of time.
Demps came out in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win and was replaced by former starter Adrian Amos. A 10-year veteran, Demps was acquired from Houston after the Bears struggled to defend against the pass and made a franchise record-low eight interceptions each of the last two seasons.
Bears coach John Fox did not characterize Demps’ injury as season-ending.